Water mixing device

ABSTRACT

A water mixing device comprises a divided first chamber comprising an inlet chamber having hot and cold inlets for connection respectively to hot and cold water supplies and an outlet chamber having at least one outlet of the device, and a divided second chamber comprising at least two separate enclosures each having an outlet into the outlet chamber. A selector valve selectively permits water from the inlet chamber to flow through one or more of the enclosures of the second chamber, at least one of these enclosures being selectable by the selector valve to permit clear water to flow into the outlet chamber, and at least one other one of the enclosures having therein a container for receiving a soluble substance such as soap whereby in use of the device the water outflow of the device may be made to contain dissolved soluble substance.

United States Patent Eisenthal et a1.

WATER MIXING DEVICE Inventors: Jack Eisenthal, 182 Church St.,

Stoke Newington, London N. 16,

England; Roger Anthony Jones; Clive William Garrard, both of London, England Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 Appl. No.: 464,824

Primary Examinerl\ lartin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Miller Attorney, Agent, or FirmWi1liam F. Frank Assignee: Jack Eisenthal, London, England [57] ABSTRACT A water mixing device comprises a divided first chamber comprising an inlet chamber having hot and cold inlets for connection respectively to hot and cold Oreign Application Priority Data water supplies and an outlet chamber having at least Mar 15, 1974 ni Kingdom 11563/74 one outlet of the device, and a divided second chamber comprising at least two separate enclosures each [52] US. Cl. 137/268; 23/267 A; 23/2725; having an outlet into the outlet chamber. A selector 137/597 valve selectively permits water from the inlet chamber [51] Int. Cl. B01F 1/00 to flow through n or m f h en l ures f the [58] Field of Sear h 137/268, 62546, 599 5991 second chamber, at least one of these enclosures being selectable by the selector valve to permit clear water to flow into the outlet chamber, and at least one other one of the enclosures having therein a container for receiving a soluble substance such as soap whereby in use of the device the water outflow of the device may [56] References Cited be made to contain dissolved soluble substance.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1,579,869 4/1926 Klages 239/315 X US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,915,191

US. Patent octfzs, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,915,191

Ill/Il/l/IYJ WATER MIXING DEVICE This invention relates to a water mixing device and particularly, although not exclusively, to a water mixing device for a shower which may be fitted to the taps of a bath.

One kind of mixing device for showers comprises a branched flexible pipe with two connectors for the hot and cold taps respectively of a bath. Another, more sophisticated known device replaces the existing taps, and includes a valve device for switching mixed streams of water either to an outlet over the bath, or to a shower fixture. 4

The first of these known devices suffers from the disadvantage that to fill a bath in the normal way, it is necessary to remove the pipe connectors from their taps. The second of these known devices suffers from the disadvantage that it is relatively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water mixing device in which these disadvantages are overcome, as well as to make it possible to obtain a mixed water outflow containing, for example, dissolved soap.

According to the present invention there is provided a water mixing device comprising a divided first chamber comprising an inlet chamber having hot and cold inlets for connection respectively to hot and cold water supplies, and an outlet chamber having at least one outlet of the device, a divided second chamber comprising at least two separate enclosures each having an outlet into said outlet chamber, selector valve means for selectively permitting water from said inlet chamber to flow through one or more of said enclosures, at least one of said enclosures being selectable by said selector valve means to permit clear water to flow into the outlet chamber, and at least one other one of said enclosures having therein means for receiving a soluble substance whereby in use of the device the water outflow of the device may be made to contain dissolved soluble substance.

A water mixing device in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, in section, of the device of FIG. 1, taken on the line II II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a side view, in section, of the device of FIG. 1 taken on the line III III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, in section, of another embodiment of the invention, taken on the line IV IV of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 5 is a side view, in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 4, taken on the line V V of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of the device comprises an outer casing formed in two parts, a lower part 1 and an upper part 2. The two parts together form a complete casing, and may be of a plastics material, secured together for example with a waterproof adhesive. The lower part 1 of the casing is formed in a generally box-like shape divided internally into two chambers by a vertical wall 3. To the rear of the wall 3 is an inlet chamber 4 and in front of the wall 3 is an outlet chamber 5. The lower part 6 of the rear wall of inlet chamber 4 is curved into the lower part 1 of the casing to accommodate the rim of a bath. In use of the device, it is secured between the bath taps by means of a fixing arrangement 7 that is secured to the upper part 8 of the rear wall of the lower part 1 of the casing. Mounted on the underside of the lower part 6 of the rear wall are a set of horizontally and substantially vertically disposed suction pads 9 and 10. The suction pads 9 rest on the generally horizontal rim of the bath, and the suction pads 10 rest against the generally vertical wall of the bath just below the rim.

The inlet chamber 4 formed in the rear part of the lower part 1 of the casing has hot and cold inlet pipes 11 secured in the bottom of the inlet chamber. The two inlet pipes 11 are connected, for example by means of rubber hoses, not shown, to the hot and cold taps of a bath.

The outlet chamber 5, which is formed in the front portion of the lower part 1 of the casing is provided with two outlets 12. One of the outlets 12 is for permitting water to flow directly to the bath, whereas the other outlet 12 is for connection to a shower head. The desired one of the outlets 12 is selected by means of a flap valve 13 which has two sealing surfaces for sealingly covering one or other of the outlet pipes 12. The flap valve is mounted on a spindle 14 which passes through the front wall of the lower part 1 of the casing, and carries on its end outside the casing a control knob 15. Thus, by moving the control knob 15 to its extreme positions in the clockwise or anti-clockwise directions, it is possible to close off one or other of the outlet pipes 12.

Water is permitted to flow from the inlet chamber 4 to the outlet chamber 5 by way of one or more of three enclosures formed within the upper part 2 of the casing. A dividing wall between the lower part 1 of the casing and the upper part 2, and between the separate enclosures, is provided by a structure 16 which will now be described. The structure 16 has a plane rectangular base 17 which is secured on ledges 18 near the top of the inside walls of the lower part 1 of the casing. The base 17 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending protrusions 19 which define between them a groove adapted to accommodate the top of the dividing wall 3 of the lower part 1 of the casing. With the structure 16 secured, for example, by waterproof adhesive, into the lower part 1 of the casing, the inlet and outlet chambers 4 and 5 are sealed off from one another, the only connection between the two chambers which is possible being a connection established through the separate enclosures defined within the upper part 2 of the'casing by the structure 16. Standing up from the base 17 of structure 16 are two walls 20 and 21 which extend par allel with one another rearwards from sealing engagement with the front wall 22 of the upper part 2 of the casing. The upper edges of the walls 20 and 21 are sealed to the top wall of the upper part 2 of the casing. Towards the rear of the base 17, the walls 20 and 21 are joined to a generally cylindrical wall 23 which extends upwards from the base 17, around an aperture 24 in the base 17 which permits a flow of water upwards from the inlet chamber into the cylindrical wall 23. Slidably mounted for angular movement within the wall 23 is a hollow, generally cylindrical sleeve valve 25. The lower end of the valve 25 is open, whereas the upper end is closed with a circular end wall 26. A suitable shaft 49 is secured to the centre of end wall 26, and extends through a circular seal 50 and through the top wall of the upper part of the casing. The end of the shaft outside the casing carries a control knob 27. The cylindrica] wall of sleeve valve 25 has an aperture 28 extending upwardly from its lower end. An aperture 29 of substantially similar dimensions to aperture 28 extends downwardly from the top of the generally cylindrical wall 23, one edge of the aperture 29 being formed by dividing wall 20. An aperture 30 exists between the rear ends of walls and 21, and an aperture 31 similar to aperture 29 is provided in the wall 23 on the side of wall 21 remote from the wall 20. By causing angular movement of control knob 27, and therefore of valve 25, it is possible to align the aperture 28 in valve 25 with any one of the apertures 29, and 31, or to place the aperture 28 in communication with part of aperture 29 and part of aperture 30, or with part of aperture 30 and part of aperture 31. Thus, it is possible to permit water from inlet chamber 4 to flow via valve 25 into the enclosure 32 formed to the left of wall 20 as viewed in FIG. 1, or through an enclosure 33, formed between the walls 20 and 21, or through an enclosure 34, formed to the right of wall 21. In addition, it is possible to cause a flow of water to both of enclosures 32 and 33, or to both of enclosures 33 and 34. Outlets from enclosures 32, 33 and 34 are provided by apertures 35, 36 and 37, respectively, provided near the front of structure 16 in the base 17. Thus, water flowing through any one or two of the enclosures 32, 33 and 34, will flow downwardly into the outlet chamber 5. Any water remaining in any one of the enclosures after the position of valve 25 has been changed will, of course, drain downwardly through apertures 35, 36 or 37 into the outlet chamber 5.

The enclosures 32 and 34 are adapted to receive containers 38 for a solid soluble substance, such as soap or shampoo. The central chamber 33 has no such provision, so that it is possible, by aligning the aperture 28 in valve 25 with the aperture 30, as shown in FIG. 2, to cause clear water to flow from the inlet chamber 4 through aperture 24 into valve 25, through apertures 28 and 30 into enclosure 33 and through aperture 36 into outlet chamber 5. In the case where it is desired to have dissolved substance in the water, the water is made to flow past a solid soluble substance contained in one of the containers 38 through the appropriate enclosure 32 or 34.

Each container 38 is a generally cylindrical member having a hollow, cylindrical body portion 39 that is open at one end 40 and closed at the other end by an end member 41 having a raised portion 42 extending diametrically across the end member 41 to enable the container 38 to be both gripped for insertion and withdrawal into and out of the casing, and to enable the container to be rotated for locking purposes. The front wall 22 of the upper part 2 of the casing has in it apertures 43 through which the containers 38 extend. Mounted in the apertures 43 are collar members 44. Each collar member is provided with a pin 45 which cooperates with a slot provided in the body 39 of the container adjacent the end member 41 to provide a bayonet-type locking action of the container into the casing. On the inside surface of the end member 41 there is provided a sealing ring of a resilient material which, when the container is locked into place in the casing, is compressed between the end member 41 and the front wall 22 of the casing. The container 38 is inserted into the container, as far as it will go, and is then rotated to cause a locking action by engagement of the pin 45 in the slot in body member 39.

As already mentioned, the container 38 has an open end 40. A mesh of, for example, brass or nylon may be provided across the open end 40 to ensure that the soluble solid substance remains in place in container 38. Part of the cylindrical wall of the body portion 39 is cut away at 51 to allow access to the solid soluble substance which is placed in the container 38. Considering the container to be in its operative position, locked in place in the casing, the cut away part is in the top of the body portion 39, and an aperture 46 is provided in the lower front portion of the body portion 39. This aperture 46 aligns with the aperture 35 of enclosure 32, or with aperture 37 of enclosure 34. Thus, if it is desired to dissolve substance from either one of the containers 38 in the Water passing through the device of the invention, the valve 25 is rotated to the appropriate position, for example with the aperture 28 aligned with aperture 29 in cylindrical wall 23. This is the position shown in FIG. 1. Water from the inlet chamber 4 therefore flows up through aperture 24, into valve 25, through apertures 28 and 29 into enclosure 32, through the open end 40 of container 38, around the solid substance contained in the container 38, and through aperture 46, through aperture 35 in base 17 and into the outlet chamber 5.

Mounted within each of the enclosures 32 and 34 is a support member 47 which has a generally semicircular support surface 48 for a container 38 when the container 38 is in position within the enclosure.

With the device of the invention, it is possible to obtain either a bath or a shower of the desired temperature by making the appropriate selection with control knob 15, and by adjusting the taps on the bath to obtain the desired mixture of hot and cold water to give the required temperature in the inlet chamber 4. It is then possible to vary the water outflow from clear water to water containing a large amount of either a first soluble substance, or a second soluble substance, or to obtain any intermediate concentration of dissolved substance in the water. Intermediate concentrations are achieved by setting valve 25 such that an appropriate amount of Water is allowed to flow both through the clear water enclosure 33, and through one of the other enclosures 32 and 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the device of the invention is shown, which is generally similar to the first embodiment, except that provision is made for only one container for a solid soluble substance, instead of two. In FIGS. 4 and 5, parts which are the same, or substantially the same as those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, are given the same reference numerals. The whole of the device below the base 17 of the structure 16 is the same for both embodiments, and will not be described further with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The upper part 2 of the casing in this second embodiment is modified to take the single container 58 which is specifically designed to receive a standard bar of toilet soap. The front wall 22 of the upper part 2 of the casing accordingly has only one aperture, which is a generally oval aperture with its centre located to one side of the centre of the upper part 2 of the casing.

The structure extending upwards from the base 17 is also modified, since only two enclosures 59 and 60 are provided for permitting water flow between inlet chamher 4 and outlet chamber 5. The enclosures 59 and 60 are separated by a wall 61 which extends from sealing engagement with the front wall 22 rearwards to join generally cylindrical wall 23. In this embodiment, wall 23 has only two apertures, an aperture 62 opening into enclosure 59, and an aperture 63 opening into enclosure 60. As in the first embodiment sleeve valve has an aperture 28 in its cylindrical wall, and an aperture 24 is provided in the base 17 for allowing water flow from inlet chamber 4 to the interior of sleeve valve 25. The remaining details of valve 25, including its method of operation, are the same as in the first embodiment.

For clear water flow in this second embodiment, the valve 25 is moved, by knob 27, to the position in which its aperture 28 is aligned with aperture 62 in wall 23. This allows clear water to flow from inlet chamber 4 through vavle 25 and into enclosure 59. At the front end of enclosure 59, an aperture 64 is provided in the base 17 so that water from enclosure 59 can flow into outlet chamber 5.

The soap container 58 is of generally oval crosssection and has an open end 65, which may be provided with a mesh, and a closed end 66 which is adapted to sealingly engage the front wall 22 of the upper part 2 of the casing. A portion of the container 58 adjacent the open end wall 65, and the upper part of the container when in its operative position, is cut away as shown at 67. This cut away portion 67 allows soap to be placed in the container. In the bottom wall of container 58, near its front end, a series of apertures 72 are provided to permit water passing over a bar of soap to flow downwardly out of the container 58. When in position, the container 58 is supported on a wall 68 which is shaped to receive the appropriate lower part of the container 58. Apertures 69 are provided in base 17, just below the apertures 68 when the container 58 is in its operative position, so that soapy water from enclosure 60 can flow into outlet chamber 5.

In order to lock and seal the container 58 in position in the device, a control knob 70 is provided, to operate a quarter turn locking cam 71.

Thus, by aligning aperture 28 in sleeve valve 25 with aperture 63 in wall 23, it is possible to cause soapy water to flow into outlet chamber 5. By causing aperture 28 to open partly onto aperture 62 and partly onto aperture 63, it is possible to vary the concentration of soap in the water.

What is claimed is:

1. A water mixing device comprising a casing having a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having a divided first chamber comprising an inlet chamber having hot and cold inlets for connection respectively to hot and cold water supplies, an outlet chamber for said device having at least one outlet from the device and valve means for said at least one outlet, said upper part having a second chamber divided by at least one wall to form at least two separate enclosures each having a fixed outlet to said outlet chamber of said lower part, selector valve means in said upper part for selectively permitting water from said inlet chamber in said lower part to flow through at least one of said enclosures, said selector valve means having one position associated with at least one of said enclosures to permit clear water to flow through said fixed outlet into the outlet chamber of the lower part and at least one other one of said enclosures having therein removable means for receiving and containing a soluble substance whereby in use of the device the water outflow from said at least one outlet may be made to contain dissolved soluble substance said device further comprising means to removably attach said device to a water supply facility. I

2. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said outlet chamber has one outlet to a bathing facility and one outlet to a shower facility, said outlet valve means being associated with the two outlets for selecting which outlet provides the water outflow from the device.

3. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said at least one wall dividing wall of the divided second chamber is arranged for cooperating with the selector valve means for permitting water to flow into either one of the enclosures formed on each side of a wall, or to flow into both such enclosures.

4. The water mixing device of claim 3 wherein the selector valve means comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical member mounted for angular movement by operation of an external control member within a cylindrical space adjacent the end of said at least one dividing wall of said divided second chamber, the hollow, generally cylindrical member being open at one end and in communication with said inlet chamber, and having at least one aperture in its cylindrical wall whereby water can flow into one or more of said enclosures as aforesaid, in accordance with the angular position of the generally cylindrical member.

5. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said enclosures are positioned relative to the outlet chamber such that in the operative position of the device, the outlets of the enclosures are above the outlet chamber, the outlets of the enclosures being in the lowermost walls of said enclosures whereby drainage of the enclosures into the outlet chamber takes place.

6. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a soluble substance comprises a container for a solid soluble substance, said container being removable from said enclosure through an opening in the external wall of the upper part of the device.

7. The water mixing device of claim 6 wherein there are three of said enclosures, two of said enclosures being provided with containers for a solid soluble substance.

8. The water mixing device of claim 6 wherein each container, comprises a hollow member at least partially open at one end to receive the solid soluble substance and to permit water to flow into the container in use of the device, and having therein an aperture spaced from said one end for positioning adjacent the outlet of an enclosure.

9. The water mixing device of claim 8 wherein the enclosure for receiving a container has an aperture in an external wall of the device for receiving a container, the end wall of said container remote from the open end thereof being adapted to sealingly engage said external wall, the container and said external wall having means for locking the container in sealing engagement with the external wall.

10. The water mixing device of claim 9 wherein said container has a circular end wall, and said means for locking the container in sealing engagement comprises bayonet-type locking means.

11. A mixing device for attachment to the outlets of a bath tub to supply a water mixture selectively to said bath tub or to a shower facility associated with said bath tub comprising an outer casing having two parts and means to attach said casing to said bath tub, said ing at least two enclosures and valve means connecting said inlet chamber of said lower part with said at least two enclosures, said enclosures each having outlet means from same opening into said outlet chamber of said lower part, at least one of said at least two enclosures containing a removable element holding a soluble 

1. A water mixing device comprising a casing having a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having a divided first chamber comprising an inlet chamber having hot and cold inlets for connection respectively to hot and cold water supplies, an outlet chamber for said device having at least one outlet from the device and valve means for said at least one outlet, said upper part having a second chamber divided by at least one wall to form at least two separate enclosures each having a fixed outlet to said outlet chamber of said lower part, selector valve means in said upper part for selectively permitting water from said inlet chamber in said lower part to flow through at least one of said enclosures, said selector valve means having one position associated with at least one of said enclosures to permit clear water to flow through said fixed outlet into the outlet chamber of the lower part and at least one other one of said enclosures having therein removable means for receiving and containing a soluble substance whereby in use of the device the water outflow from said at least one outlet may be made to contain dissolved soluble substance, said device further comprising means to removably attach said device to a water supply facility.
 2. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said outlet chamber has one outlet to a bathing facility and one outlet to a shower facility, said outlet valve means being associated with the two outlets for selecting which outlet provides the water outflow from the device.
 3. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said at least one wall dividing wall of the divided second chamber is arranged for cooperating with the selector valve means for permitting water to flow into either one of the enclosures formed on each side of a wall, or to flow into both such enclosures.
 4. The water mixing device of claim 3 wherein the selector valve means comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical member mounted for angular movement by operation of an external control member within a cylindrical space adjacent the end of said aT least one dividing wall of said divided second chamber, the hollow, generally cylindrical member being open at one end and in communication with said inlet chamber, and having at least one aperture in its cylindrical wall whereby water can flow into one or more of said enclosures as aforesaid, in accordance with the angular position of the generally cylindrical member.
 5. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said enclosures are positioned relative to the outlet chamber such that in the operative position of the device, the outlets of the enclosures are above the outlet chamber, the outlets of the enclosures being in the lowermost walls of said enclosures whereby drainage of the enclosures into the outlet chamber takes place.
 6. The water mixing device of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a soluble substance comprises a container for a solid soluble substance, said container being removable from said enclosure through an opening in the external wall of the upper part of the device.
 7. The water mixing device of claim 6 wherein there are three of said enclosures, two of said enclosures being provided with containers for a solid soluble substance.
 8. The water mixing device of claim 6 wherein each container, comprises a hollow member at least partially open at one end to receive the solid soluble substance and to permit water to flow into the container in use of the device, and having therein an aperture spaced from said one end for positioning adjacent the outlet of an enclosure.
 9. The water mixing device of claim 8 wherein the enclosure for receiving a container has an aperture in an external wall of the device for receiving a container, the end wall of said container remote from the open end thereof being adapted to sealingly engage said extenal wall, the container and said external wall having means for locking the container in sealing engagement with the external wall.
 10. The water mixing device of claim 9 wherein said container has a circular end wall, and said means for locking the container in sealing engagement comprises bayonet-type locking means.
 11. A mixing device for attachment to the outlets of a bath tub to supply a water mixture selectively to said bath tub or to a shower facility associated with said bath tub comprising an outer casing having two parts and means to attach said casing to said bath tub, said casing comprising a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having formed into an inlet chamber separated by a wall from an outlet chamber, said inlet chamber having a hot and cold inlet pipe connectable to the respective hot and cold outlets for said bathtub, the outlet chamber having one outlet to said bathtub and one outlet to said shower facility and said lower part including valve means to selectively open and close one of said outlet means, said upper part comprising at least two enclosures and valve means connecting said inlet chamber of said lower part with said at least two enclosures, said enclosures each having outlet means from same opening into said outlet chamber of said lower part, at least one of said at least two enclosures containing a removable element holding a soluble substance. 